The world's oldest man just celebrated his 115th birthday. He's a farmer from Kyoto, Japan, and he says he's always eaten small portions of food, and been the sort of a guy who always looked to the sky. As well, he thinks of himself as a someone who is always trying to learn new things.

Good for him. I'd rather have a shorter life well lived than a long one just for the sake of longevity.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov

I think you'd have to define 'well lived' as opposed to not well lived if you want to make a point.

I could define it for myself. You'll have to define it for yourself.

From reading the information provided about the gentleman in question, it seems as if he has (so far) lived a productive, happy life.

Good for him.

After all, there's no reason why a very long life shouldn't be well lived, too.

I go for quality, not quantity. You, or the old guy, can do what you want with your lives.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov

You seem to be implying that living into what we call old age means we somehow drop off the productivity scale. But, what if you're not productive, and you just sit around watching TV and petting your dog, but you're still content and happy with your life?

Doesn't that count, too?

As I said, what, exactly, defines a 'well lived' life?

For myself - Although I'm in my 71st year, I do like to think that I'm still productive in many different ways, and still giving something back to my family and to the community!

You seem to be implying that living into what we call old age means we somehow drop off the productivity scale.

And you seem to believe we all can live to 115 and run marathons. I'll go by what happens to most and admit that productivity starts to drop off around 75 and goes even faster after 85. One person living to 115 changes none of that.

As I said, what, exactly, defines a 'well lived' life?

For myself - Although I'm in my 71st year, I do like to think that I'm still productive in many different ways, and still giving something back to my family and to the community!

That's right, it's something you have to define for yourself.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov

My grandmother lived to be 102. She outlived her husband by a good 30 years and outlived her only child - my mother - by ten. She had cateracts and severe arthritis, and spent the last five years of her life in a "home." The few letters I got from her (dictated to a cousin of my mom's) usually ended with, "I'm ready to meet my Maker, I hope He hasn't forgotten about me."

I don't see what there is to argue about, here. Even those who prefer to die while they're still young and productive can be impressed by someone who makes it to 115 years of age, since it is such a rarity. If he were being kept alive artificially, that would be another story. Of course, one can take the "decline" factor too far, since we start to loose muscle and mental accuity in our 40s and really start to die the moment we are born. I like "Live Long and Prosper" myself.

We live as long as we live. If we prosper while we live then one can claim a productive live. If we are able to give ourselves to the betterment of others then our life is worthwhile, however long it is.